Consider raising cigarette tax

Alabama’s lawmakers must be proud of 47th place. That’s where Alabama ranks when it comes to cigarette taxes. Our state tax is 42.5 cents, the 47th lowest in the country. The national average is $1.46 per pack. Gov. Robert Bentley has said he will not support any tax increase proposals that impact Alabama families. However, a cigarette tax increase would significantly benefit Alabama families. A tax increase would reduce the number of young people — those under age 18 — who smoke.

In fact, 34,200 young people would never start smoking if the cigarette tax were increased by $1. Some 33,200 adults would quit smoking, too. And 20,000 lives would be saved from smoking-related deaths. Those are real, family-impacting numbers from the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids and the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network. An additional tax on non-cigarette tobacco products to bring them in line with cigarettes will keep kids from switching to these products and provide additional health benefits.

The idea for a tobacco tax increase should not be dismissed out of hand. Our state would benefit tremendously from a $1 per pack increase on cigarettes, and also be much closer to the national average than we are now. Let’s not settle for 47th place. Read more: Anniston Star - Consider raising cigarette tax